BY DESTINY JOHNSON
Journal Staff Writer

To date, The Bahamas has recorded 46 traffic fatalities, an increase of four compared to the same
period in 2022.
Just last week Sunday, a male driving a trail motorcycle collided with a female driving a gold
Nissan Bluebird in the Nassau Village area.
The male succumbed to his injuries on scene.
With fatal road traffic accidents on the rise, Minister of Energy and Transport Jobeth Colbey-
Davis gave a comprehensive update on these fatalities and announced the Road Traffic Act
review.
“The number of fatalities involving females rose from six to 12. The number of fatality accidents
involving motorcycles jumped from four to eight. These observations are quite disturbing. As
minister of transport, I continue to urge Bahamians to slow down and to drive with extreme
caution,” she advised.
“I take this opportunity to advise that the Road Traffic Act is under review. Any amendment
would prioritize improving road safety and modernizing the Road Traffic Department. In short
order, my ministry and the Road Traffic Department will announce several new initiatives. These
programs will feature multiple projects, including the erection of billboards in strategic locations
throughout our country to promote and encourage road safety.”
In the coming days, Minister Coleby- Davis along with the Ministry of Education, Ministry of
Public Works and Family Island Development and Baha Mar will establish the Calvin Morley
Junior Safe School Zone Initiative.
This initiative is in memory of 13-year-old Calvin Morley who was struck and killed while he
attempted to cross Robinson Road around 8:40 p.m. on December 12, 2012.
“The strategic imperatives of the program are to improve road safety in school zones, increase
and establish the visibility of pedestrian crossings, use new solar technology and outfit in
pedestrian crossings, and encourage a culture of respecting all road users. The initiative will seek
to bring about an improvement in pedestrian crossings, signs and technology in school zones.
The pedestrian crossings will feature a rapid flashing beacon system to push button activation.
The bright flashing LED beacon system is part of the solar traffic safety series and will be used
to alert drivers of upcoming pedestrian crosswalks,” Minister Coleby-Davis said.
She added that other initiatives will also be introduced in hopes to increase visibility on roads
and decrease traffic fatalities in the country.